Is the GOP inching closer to accepting Trump?

[Lyin' Steve]

Maybe it's just me, but I've been getting a lot of wishy-washy-on-Trump vibes over the last two weeks.  Two months ago he was a clown, a complete embarrassment, the worst thing ever to happen to this party or to this country.  Now we hear Trump being talked about not just seriously as a candidate but seriously as a nominee.  I see establishment consultants and talking heads on Fox News giving statements like "I don't think Trump is going to be the nominee, but..."

Was it the tax plan that did it?  Or maybe the lack of seriously controversial statements over the last couple weeks has led to a lack of routine serious condemnation.

[Maxwell]

It's probably the fact that he continues to lead significantly and there isn't any end to it in sight.

[BM]

They could be realizing all of their other candidates simply lack the charisma, charm, and media savvy of Trump.

Maybe it says more about the other candidates that Donald Trump is one of the most electable, but I'd put him at least in the top 3 of this sorry lot. There's no point in pretending otherwise.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Jeb was suppose to be the 45th prez. Now Trumpnwho has a 39 percent favorable has to go against Hillary.

[SillyAmerican]

There's still a long way to go. I wouldn't count anyone in just yet, including Trump and Clinton.

Trump's numbers reflect the fact that people are sick of the status quo. Clinton's numbers reflect the fact that she's managed to convince everyone that she deserves the presidency, that there's nobody better qualified. With 2015 coming to a close, I'll be very interested to see if Mr. Trump can maintain the interest he currently enjoys, and if Mrs. Clinton can avoid problems with the ongoing FBI investigation into her emails. Honestly, I would not be surprised to see the numbers for each of these candidates drop like a rock.

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

There's still a long way to go. I wouldn't count anyone in just yet, including Trump and Clinton.

Trump's numbers reflect the fact that people are sick of the status quo. Clinton's numbers reflect the fact that she's managed to convince everyone that she deserves the presidency, that there's nobody better qualified. With 2015 coming to a close, I'll be very interested to see if Mr. Trump can maintain the interest he currently enjoys, and if Mrs. Clinton can avoid problems with the ongoing FBI investigation into her emails. Honestly, I would not be surprised to see the numbers for each of these candidates drop like a rock.

People have been saying this for months.  I doubt it will happen, unless Trump deliberately sabotages his campaign after being told how much money BEING President will cost him.  (And I don't really think that will happen, either.)

The GOP Establishment is less opposed to Trump because they're taking a good look at Ted Cruz.  Donald Trump understands the concept of "Deal".  Ted Cruz understands the concept of "No Deal".  The GOP Establishment will always tell Howie Mandel "Deal" rather than "No Deal", because they're relatively pragmatic, and at this time, the road to the GOP nomination for a typical Establishment candidate requires heavy handed tactics to preempt the Trumps and Carsons that will be considered unsavory.  The Establishment isn't pro-Trump, but they are at the "Never say 'Never!'" stage.

[Mehmentum]

I think its more resignation than true acceptance.

[Torie]

There is no point in going full stop to take Trump out, until a viable alternative clearly emerges, as some others here have implied.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

There is no point in going full stop to take Trump out, until a viable alternative clearly emerges, as some others here have implied.

[dudeabides]

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As a Republican voter, I can tell you that I won't be voting for Donald Trump under any circumstances, and I am not alone. I refuse to vote for someone who has shown a disdain for the free market, such disrespect towards women and our veterans, hatred towards immigrants, and who is a divisive person. If I have to vote Libertarian, I will. Freedom is on the ballot in this election. In the Republican Party, Donald Trump represents a threat to our freedom. In the Democratic Party, Jim Webb is the only one who has fought, and continues to defend, freedom.

[Ljube]

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As a Republican voter, I can tell you that I won't be voting for Donald Trump under any circumstances, and I am not alone. I refuse to vote for someone who has shown a disdain for the free market, such disrespect towards women and our veterans, hatred towards immigrants, and who is a divisive person. If I have to vote Libertarian, I will. Freedom is on the ballot in this election. In the Republican Party, Donald Trump represents a threat to our freedom. In the Democratic Party, Jim Webb is the only one who has fought, and continues to defend, freedom.

I don't think you're a libertarian. You certainly don't act like one.
By the way, Donald Trump is no threat to anyone's freedom. Only Hillary is a threat to our freedom. Think about that.

[dudeabides]

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As a Republican voter, I can tell you that I won't be voting for Donald Trump under any circumstances, and I am not alone. I refuse to vote for someone who has shown a disdain for the free market, such disrespect towards women and our veterans, hatred towards immigrants, and who is a divisive person. If I have to vote Libertarian, I will. Freedom is on the ballot in this election. In the Republican Party, Donald Trump represents a threat to our freedom. In the Democratic Party, Jim Webb is the only one who has fought, and continues to defend, freedom.

I don't think you're a libertarian. You certainly don't act like one.
By the way, Donald Trump is no threat to anyone's freedom. Only Hillary is a threat to our freedom. Think about that.

I am a hybrid between a libertarian and a conservative. I don't adhere to the libertarian philosophy fully but I subscribe to a part of it. Donald Trump does threaten our freedom. He wants the government to control our health care system, he says he will cover everyone. That's worse than Obamacare. He wants to end free trade, that would cause a rapid rise in consumer products, lower wages of our workers, and put our economy into a downturn. He supports government stimulus, he supported Obama's stimulus. He is not a proponent of economic freedom, and he also has been an opponent of property rights.

[Ljube]

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As a Republican voter, I can tell you that I won't be voting for Donald Trump under any circumstances, and I am not alone. I refuse to vote for someone who has shown a disdain for the free market, such disrespect towards women and our veterans, hatred towards immigrants, and who is a divisive person. If I have to vote Libertarian, I will. Freedom is on the ballot in this election. In the Republican Party, Donald Trump represents a threat to our freedom. In the Democratic Party, Jim Webb is the only one who has fought, and continues to defend, freedom.

I don't think you're a libertarian. You certainly don't act like one.
By the way, Donald Trump is no threat to anyone's freedom. Only Hillary is a threat to our freedom. Think about that.

I am a hybrid between a libertarian and a conservative. I don't adhere to the libertarian philosophy fully but I subscribe to a part of it. Donald Trump does threaten our freedom. He wants the government to control our health care system, he says he will cover everyone. That's worse than Obamacare. He wants to end free trade, that would cause a rapid rise in consumer products, lower wages of our workers, and put our economy into a downturn. He supports government stimulus, he supported Obama's stimulus. He is not a proponent of economic freedom, and he also has been an opponent of property rights.

I am a pure libertarian and while I don't like those aspects of Trump's policy you mentioned, I like many aspects of Hillary's potential policy far less. It's either Trump or Hillary. What's your choice?

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

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As a Republican voter, I can tell you that I won't be voting for Donald Trump under any circumstances, and I am not alone. I refuse to vote for someone who has shown a disdain for the free market, such disrespect towards women and our veterans, hatred towards immigrants, and who is a divisive person. If I have to vote Libertarian, I will. Freedom is on the ballot in this election. In the Republican Party, Donald Trump represents a threat to our freedom. In the Democratic Party, Jim Webb is the only one who has fought, and continues to defend, freedom.

Of course people aren´t donating as much to The Donald as they are to other candidates, he is the proud "self-made" multi zillionaire

[bobloblaw]

Jeb was suppose to be the 45th prez. Now Trumpnwho has a 39 percent favorable has to go against Hillary.

an election of unfavorables.

[dudeabides]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

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As a Republican voter, I can tell you that I won't be voting for Donald Trump under any circumstances, and I am not alone. I refuse to vote for someone who has shown a disdain for the free market, such disrespect towards women and our veterans, hatred towards immigrants, and who is a divisive person. If I have to vote Libertarian, I will. Freedom is on the ballot in this election. In the Republican Party, Donald Trump represents a threat to our freedom. In the Democratic Party, Jim Webb is the only one who has fought, and continues to defend, freedom.

I don't think you're a libertarian. You certainly don't act like one.
By the way, Donald Trump is no threat to anyone's freedom. Only Hillary is a threat to our freedom. Think about that.

I am a hybrid between a libertarian and a conservative. I don't adhere to the libertarian philosophy fully but I subscribe to a part of it. Donald Trump does threaten our freedom. He wants the government to control our health care system, he says he will cover everyone. That's worse than Obamacare. He wants to end free trade, that would cause a rapid rise in consumer products, lower wages of our workers, and put our economy into a downturn. He supports government stimulus, he supported Obama's stimulus. He is not a proponent of economic freedom, and he also has been an opponent of property rights.

I am a pure libertarian and while I don't like those aspects of Trump's policy you mentioned, I like many aspects of Hillary's potential policy far less. It's either Trump or Hillary. What's your choice?

I would be for Gary Johnson. But if I absolutely had to choose, I'd pick the more conservative person because I'm more ideological than I am partisan. So Clinton.